Maya Jama grins for a selfie with Simon Cowell as host of his new ITV talent show Walk The Line

Maya Jama is set to host Simon Cowell’s new TV talent show Walk The Line – and took to Instagram on Tuesday to celebrate her new gig.

The former Radio 1 DJ, 27, was announced as the presenter of the new series, which sees Simon try out a new format following his decision to shelve The X Factor indefinitely.

Maya uploaded a snap of her and Simon, 61, grinning in a selfie, seemingly taken at one of his homes in the states thanks to the palm-tree-laden, sun-drenched coastal backdrop.

Cheshire cats: Maya Jama is set to host Simon Cowell’s new TV talent show Walk The Line – and took to Instagram on Tuesday to celebrate her new gig

She penned in the excitable caption: ‘GOOD NEWS GANG! From watching talent shows made by this man growing up to hosting one myself on big bloody ITV is honestly a dream!

‘I don’t wanna get all deep on here but the journey has been a mad one & I am so so grateful for the opportunity and excited for this next chapter.

‘Walk The Line… coming soooon… brb gna scream off my balcony [sic]’

Walk The Line is a high octane series offering music acts a chance to win a life changing prize pot of £500,000.  

At the helm: The former Radio 1 DJ, 27, was announced as the presenter of the new series on Tuesday

New format: The musical acts – be they soloists, duos, bands, or choirs – will take to the stage to perform for the nation, as well as Simon Cowell [pictured last month at America’s Got Talent] and a panel of judges to be confirmed in due course

The musical acts – be they soloists, duos, bands, or choirs – will take to the stage to perform for the nation, as well as Simon Cowell and a panel of judges to be confirmed in due course.

But to win the money, talent alone isn’t enough – the contestants will need nerves of steel as they determine whether to cash out or physically Walk The Line and risk it all to stay in the competition.

Maya said in an ITV press release on Tuesday: ‘If someone said to me, describe your dream job. It would be this!

‘I literally couldn’t be more excited to be working with Syco, Lifted Entertainment and the incredible team at ITV on Walk The Line.’

Slew of credentials: She set a new record as the youngest ever host of the MOBO Awards, has hosted the EE BAFTA film red carpet and ITV’s Brit Awards Backstage show, as well as Stand up to Cancer and Comic Relief [pictured at Wireless Festival last weekend]

New direction: Walk The Line sees Simon try out a new format following his decision to shelve The X Factor indefinitely [pictured with Leona Lewis and Nicole Scherzinger during the last ever episode of the show in 2019]

Katie Rawcliffe, ITV Head of Entertainment said: ‘Maya is an exciting talent who brings a fresh energy, star power and stellar credentials to Walk The Line.

‘We’re looking forward to working with her and introducing this brilliant new format to viewers later in 2021!’

Maya has a slew of credentials: She set a new record as the youngest ever host of the MOBO Awards, has hosted the EE BAFTA film red carpet and ITV’s Brit Awards Backstage show, as well as Stand up to Cancer and Comic Relief.

She has presented Save Our Summer and Glow Up, is a regular on Celebrity Juice, Celebrity Goggle Box and on the panel of ITV’s award winning show Don’t Hate The Playaz, and has recently made her acting debut as Brenda in Katherine Ryan’s Netflix series The Duchess.

The show is believed to be shooting through the autumn, with broadcast set for later in the year.